The United States is considering the withdrawal of two brigades from Europe. Some argued that these conventional forces were no longer necessary because they did not address the threats of the 21st century. We have seen the emergence of new challenges such as counterterrorism, cyber, and energy security, as well as the persistence of traditional nuclear and conventional threats. This broad set of issues suggests that NATO, and U.S. force posture and presence in Europe, must expand and evolve.
NATO is fundamentally a security alliance. The new Strategic Concept must therefore strengthen the security of member states and establish policies that continue to deter potential adversaries and reassure member nations. In particular, the Central and Eastern Europeans—who have been some of America’s staunchest allies—need and deserve the Alliance’s reassurance.
This reassurance is crucial for a number of reasons. First, Moscow has been steadily increasing its intimidating rhetoric and aggressive actions towards countries that the Kremlin considers within its “sphere of influence.” While insecurity grows in Europe from Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia and its repeated threats to place offensive nuclear missiles in Kaliningrad, some perceive the United States is shifting its attention away from the region in an effort to “reset” its relations with Russia. Russia’s behavior is a reminder that traditional NATO security tenets like strategic deterrence are still important.
U.S. nuclear forces in Europe have been and remain fundamental to the credibility and viability of Article Five. Russia’s 3,800 tactical nuclear weapons remain an existential threat to many NATO states. As the U.S. Secretary of Defense recently highlighted in testimony before Congress, the nuclear imbalance is the reason the United States maintains nuclear weapons in Europe. NATO must remain a nuclear Alliance. U.S. nuclear forces in Europe provide a visible sign of reassurance and commitment and serve to reduce the intimidation and coercion of NATO Allies.
The Strategic Concept also offers the United States a unique opportunity to expand its thinking on how U.S. force presence can evolve to continue reassuring and demonstrating commitment to the Alliance. Iran’s progress in developing nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles has highlighted the need for territorial missile defense capabilities. Despite Central Europe’s disappointment with the U.S. shift in missile defense policy, Allies have new "presence" opportunities in the Obama Administration’s revised approach, particularly by hosting missile defense assets such as land-based radars, interceptors and command centers.
Another way to evolve U.S. force presence is to change the mission responsibilities of U.S. forces in Europe. The ongoing operations in Afghanistan have highlighted NATO’s key role in the training and mentoring of Afghan security forces. The United States should consider establishing Advisory and Assist Brigades in NATO countries to focus on strengthening joint training capabilities that can posture the Alliance to better support counterterrorism operations.
In addition to terrorism, the new Strategic Concept should highlight other emerging areas that require NATO’s attention: WMD proliferation, cyber attacks and threats that necessitate operations beyond the territorial defense of Europe and North America. U.S. forces can contribute in these areas through greater cooperation, such as Centers of Excellence, intelligence sharing, joint training and exercises, military schools and technology centers.
The evolution of the U.S. force posture in Europe offers an opportunity to engage NATO aspirants. Aspiring members that fulfill accession requirements should be assured that they have a clear pathway to membership. The Strategic Concept must reinforce an “open door” policy. Central Europe’s transition to democratic society was incentivized and aided by the prospect of NATO membership. To maintain this vehicle for change, NATO must firmly stand behind its “open door” policy. Only by integrating new countries within NATO will current Allies perpetuate European security and stability.
Members and partners reassured by the U.S. nuclear deterrent, continued “open door” policy, and augmented U.S. posture may be more willing to assist the United States. These countries could help in developing a common understanding of how to engage Russia. If the Strategic Concept does not address traditional security threats, expand on the ways to mitigate them and incorporate emerging security areas, it risks further deterioration of a successful “reset” in relations between Moscow and Washington.
The United States and Allied experts should incorporate reassurance into the Concept to assure that the Alliance can withstand pressures from outside and within. Only a robust and adaptable NATO can guarantee the continued indivisibility of trans-Atlantic security for years to come. The Heads of State and Government must sign a Strategic Concept which will help preserve NATO’s primacy as the cornerstone of trans-Atlantic security for the future. | 
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